March 30, 2015

We've been having spring weather this week and it is simply gorgeous. Thunderstorms rolling through and refreshing rains. Some days I just want to dance with feeling alive! Spring is such a beautiful reminder of God's living grace and redemption. He makes us alive!

A few snapshots from our weekend....

Icy weather cancelled our Valentine outing weeks ago so we got to celebrate twice! I am blessed to have a man who goes shopping with me (celebrates good deals), takes me to new coffee shops and gets me fro-yo. Yep, it was a good weekend.

taking selfies - or is it twofies? Even if it isn't great lighting and we laugh so hard they're blurry.

this man lights up my world - his love, his care, his passion for me, life and Jesus - I am so rich!

We found a Home Good while we were out and about and now I have too many things I want for my house. Oh and Pottery Barn too. Seriously why do they have such cool stuff? Feeds my ideas for hunting at thrift stores this summer.

March 21, 2015

"Good means I never mess up. Good means I weigh the perfect amount. Good means I can handle everything. I don't look like a foll and I never lose my patience...Good means I am enough. My goodness is all about me." - Emily Freeman

Do you ever get tired of trying to be good? I do. Of living with checkmarks and rules that you measure by?

My goodness is all about me - ouch that hurts! When I try to be good, it's me. It's my measure up. Not about God.

"When we believe that God expects us to try hard to become who Jesus wants us to be, we will live in that blurry, frustrating land of Should Be rather than trust the One Who Is."

For years, I lived as a "try hard good girl". I believed in Jesus, I loved Jesus. But I had an image I created (by the standards, opinions and thoughts of others) that made me work hard. Mistakes were not included. I wanted to live in God's grace but I worked for it.

I longed to live in the freedom and joy that Jesus speaks of. But I still clamored on seeking to live this life perfectly. I still strove to be a good Christian girl. (to be honest, I strove to be a perfect Christian girl cause that's what others wanted, right?)

This was not God's desire for my life...

"But Jesus is calling us to a deeper, truer, freer identity. All he wants is simply you - minus your good works, minus your perfect attendance, minus your politeness. When you really believe that, you may discover that all you want is Jesus, simply Jesus. Not just to get to heaven or to help you be a good person or do the right thing, but to simply love and be loved by Him."
To love and be loved by Him. Love. Rest. Trust.

Jesus had a lovely, freeing picture that He was offering to me....and the journey to be fully alive in His grace continues. It's a long journey but these beginnings give hope of a beautiful picture.

The thoughts were inspired by quotes from the book Grace for the Good Girl (Emily Freeman) - read it!

March 11, 2015

It's a gorgeous day here in my little corner of the world with sunshine, singing of birds and frogs and warm air swishing through the open doors. The kind of day that makes you want to dig your hands deep into soil. Warmth that makes you want to go plant seeds.

It's good to be alive! I can't wait for picnics, exploring - all the the good things that spring brings. So with that here are a few things that are making me happy!

...the chorus of frogs and birds that I hear when I step outside
...awakenings of spring
... new adventure awaits with this coming of spring
...warm air
...several days with my man where we enjoyed being together, discussing and digging deep into things that God is showing us #letslivefullyalive
...discovering Jesus
...believing the truths of who I am
...living fully alive

...crocheting my first real adult hat
...finally finishing a project that's needed done forever
...my darling new niece
...books that make me think (like Daring Greatly)
...blogs like this one and this one
...direction

March 8, 2015

the following quote I read last week links in well with thoughts my man and I have been talking and discovering about living fully alive in this world...

"We must see God’s gifts of creation as windows into his glory and opportunities to praise him. But we must also find pleasure in them....Attention given to
creation is not stolen from its Creator. The more we enjoy God’s gifts
for their own sake, the more we can appreciate him. And thank him for,
and love him with.

Thank God
for the privilege of being human and of being here. Then go have
some fun. " - T.C.